Lot 124
CIVIL WAR ARCHIVE OF ARMY PRINTER STEPHEN J. LEE, 8TH CONN. VOLS.
A fascinating and sizable collection of letters, documents, manuscripts, books, prints and related ephemera relative to the life and career of Stephen J. Lee (1837 - 1872). Born in Brunswick, Maine, Lee learned the printing trade in Bath, Maine. After working in Portland and then Boston, he enlisted in the Union Army as a member of the 18th Connecticut Infantry in August 1862. Almost immediately his printing skills were put to work and he was detached to Harper's Ferry to work a printing press. According to his obituary, Lee also served in several engagements and was taken prisoner at Winchester, Virginia in June 1863 and sent to Libby Prison in Richmond. However family tradition holds that Lee was captured after going A.W.O.L. in an attempt to escape the abuse of a drunken general. Following his parole in early July of that year, he was reassigned to oversee the Army Printing Corps at Cumberland and Harper's Ferry, Maryland. Following the war, Lee resumed work as a printer in Danielsonville, Connecticut and later near Worcester, Mass. and died of consumption in 1872. Of particular interest in this collection is a lengthy manuscript in the hand of Lee's wife, Mary Jane, who according to family tradition was an American Indian who originally went by the name of Singing Bird who became an outcast from her people when she willingly slept with a white man. The manuscript details her 1864 visit her husband following his release from prison in an Ms. 19pp. 12mo., [n.p., n.d.] which reads, in small part: "I have been asked a great many times by some of my friends to write the experience I had at Harpers Ferry in the year of 1864... Mr. L[ee] was on detached duty as printer at headquarters Government Printing Office Harpers Ferry. He wrote me several times to come there... I did not go till the 18th of June. I took the boat train... to Baltimore... took the train to Harpers Ferry and arrived about 5 o'clock in the morning. something broke,. We were detained - had to wit on the road a long time. Mr. L. met me at Baltimore... I had been there for about a week when there was a rumor that the rebels were going to take Harpers Ferry again. They had taken it twice before and our folks thought it was only a rumor. They had taken it twice before... The Potomac river was but a little ways east of Main St. On Saturday night, the pickets were firing all night on both sides of the river. I never went to bed. It was the noisiest night I ever spent. People were packing their goods and moving the [?] were flying the heavy teams passing every body rushing. Mr L and others with him packed the printing Office the best they could but had to leave it. he said I would have to go to Sandy Hook in the morning that is one mile this side of Harpers Ferry there is a long bridge between. We went over their [sic] Sunday but every one had got the start of us I could not get in any where Sandy Hook is a very small place We went to every house Mr. L. was ordered on Maryland Heights which our troops held. he said I would have to go home in the morning. We went back to the Ferry. I sit with my hat on ready to run all the rest of the day all sunday night and till monday about 10 o'clock Mr L came in said their was a freight car that [was] being loaded with mostly... women and children. I would have to in that to Baltimore it proved to be a coal car with boxes and anything we could get to sin on that was the only car that left Harpers Ferry that day... it was the 4th of July they were fighting on or near Bolliver Hights [sic] so they said and they brought the wounded an put them in the cars there was 2 in the car I was in one laid at my feet I shaded him with my parasol [sic] he was shot in the side the other was a very young and beautiful man he kept fainting they called for a fan I gave them mine. They were from the Ohio Regiment. We left Harpers ferry at half past 2 in the afternoon came over to Sandy Hook there we changed cars, we took a passenger car they took the wounded to the Hospital in Sandy Hook. I bid my husband good by[e] and started for home... all was well till we got to Point of Rocks first I heard the train began to slack and there was a great fireing [sic] of guns the conductor rant throu [sic] all the cars hollering all Lay Down in the bottom of the cars, all lay down in the bottom of the cars. We did there was an engine at each end of the cars. We went back flying... There was but one wounded that was the engineer. They fought at Point of Rocks several days. one man took several prisoners after that I saw them [the rebels] they said they could [have] taken that train Just as well as not but it was crowded with women and children and they did not want to hurt them. the cars never stop[p]ed any whear [sic] till we got back to Sandy Hook then I looked out of the Window the first person I saw was my husband he stood at the first end of the platform with a smile on his face and he gave me the Military Salute. I asked him how it happened that he was their. he said he started to get out on the platform and some one told him that there was a telegraph Dispatch he step[p]ed back to see what it was and it said the tram was fired into and was coming back so he waited... " Staying with a family in Sandy Hook, she watched as the Confederates raided Harper's Ferry: "...The cannon balls would go over Sandy Hook and land in H[arpers].F[erry]. The rebels burned several buildings in the Ferry. One was a large forage house. It was the prettiest fire I ever saw. They had a fire every night so could see it very well[?]... General Segal [sic] went Through S.H. while I was there with 10,000 troops... came back to Harpers Ferry the 9th of Jul. The 10th of July a General came into the Office told them to pack the Office just as soon as he could Said they had got to skedaddle the rebels were near report was that 30,000 rebels in Virginia... :" Much more fine content. The collection also includes two 1864 letters from Lee to his wife as well as an original pencil drawing of a Civil War camp (presumably drawn by Lee) that identifies various buildings a as well as the telegraph lines. Also of interest is Lee's printers sample book that includes a very large collection mounted sample greeting cards and the like as well as billheads and letterheads. Also included are two C.D.Vs. of Lee as well as post-war material including manuscripts written for a temperance newspaper as well as the bill for Lee's casket in 1872. Includes approximately 15 war date documents directed to Lee including passes, orders as well his enlistment discharge papers. We believe some of the passes were printed by Lee himself in his professional capacity. Also included are a good set of documents relative to his widow's efforts to obtain a pension. Other material includes several lodge badges, small books including a 16mo. copy of The Little Deserter (New Haven, 1824)... we don't know if Lee appreciated the irony of this. Overall condition good to very good. Should be viewed.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer
Shipping
Shipment is sent USPS priority, USPS International Express (for most overseas) or UPS Ground at the auctioneer's option, signature required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling, shipping and insurance charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyer's should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. Customer's who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee.
Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 22.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $99 | $10 |
| $100 | $499 | $20 |
| $500 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 + | $1,000 |